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Hillary Clinton made history on Thursday when she officially accepted the Democratic nomination for president. Watch her full speech from the Democratic National Convention below!
Just as Donald Trump was introduced by daughter Ivanka Trump at the Republican National Convention last week, it was Clinton’s daughter Chelsea who gave a keynote address now before her mom took the stage. As Gossip Cop has previously noted, the former First Daughter is the only person to ever have both parents be presidential nominees. And Clinton, of course, is the first woman to ever win a major party nomination.
With Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” playing, she took the stage at the Wells Fargo Center in Pennsylvania to thunderous cheers and a standing ovation from the audience. After the applause finally died down, Clinton said, “Thank you all very, very much! Thank you for that amazing welcome. Thank you all for the great convention that we’ve had. And Chelsea, thank you.”
Chants of “Hillary” broke out as Clinton thanked husband Bill Clinton, and words of gratitude for President Obama and Vice President Biden followed. And after shouting out her vice presidential running mate Tim Kaine, she even thanked Bernie Sanders. To his supporters, Clinton said, “I heard you,” vowing that their progressive causes are hers, too.
Clinton next spoke of the “courage” of the Founding Fathers and the “enduring truth that we are stronger together.” She went on, “Now America is once again at a moment of reckoning. Powerful forces are threatening to pull us apart. Bonds of trust and respect are fraying. And just as with our founders there are no guarantees. It’s truly is up to us. We have to decide whether we will all work together so we can all rise together.”
The former Secretary of State said her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, wants to “divide” the people and “fear the future.” She insisted, “We are clear-eyed about what our country is up against. But we are not afraid. We will rise to the challenge, just as we always have. We will not build a wall. Instead we will build an economy where everyone who wants a job can get one. And we’ll build a path of citizenship to millions of immigrants who are already contributing to our economy. We will not band a religion. We will work with all our allies to fight and defeat terrorism.”
“Don’t let anyone tell you our country is weak. We’re not,” Clinton insisted, adding, “Don’t believe anyone who says, ‘I alone can fix it.'” In contrast, she said Americans say, “We’ll fix it together.” She added, “America needs every one of us,” and that this is a country where “love trumps hate.”
Clinton went on to declare, “So, it’s with humility, determination and boundless confidence in America’s promise that I accept your nomination for president of the United States.” She next trumpeted her history as First Lady, New York senator, and Secretary of State. “But my job titles only tell you what I’ve done. They don’t tell you why,” she noted.
To explain “why,” Clinton detailed her family’s history, and how her mother taught her, “No one gets through life alone.” That spurred her advocacy and service work. “Simply caring is not enough,” she said, noting, “I sweat the details.” Clinton went on to promise to be a president for “all Americans” together, regardless of party, status, or whether they vote for her.
Of her historic accomplishment, Clinton said, “I’m happy for grandmothers and girls and everyone in between. I’m happy for boys and for men. Because when any barrier falls in America, it clears the way for everyone. After all, when there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit.”
“But even more important than the history we make tonight is the history we write together,” Clinton stated, stressing, “No one can be satisfied with the status quo.” She acknowledged that some are “frustrated and even furious” with the economy and the work place.
“So I want to tell you tonight how we’re going to empower all Americans to live better lives. My primary mission as President will be to create more opportunity and more good jobs with rising wages right here in the United States,” she said, “From my first day in office to my last, especially in places that for too long have been left out and left behind.”
Clinton admitted, “Our democracy isn’t working as it should.” To change that, she advocated for Supreme Court justices, constitutional amendments and comprehensive immigration reform. She said of immigrants, “It would be self-defeating and inhumane to try to kick them out.” She further voiced support for science, living wages, equal pay, affordable healthcare, and women’s healthcare.
“You didn’t hear of this from Donald Trump at this convention, did you? He spoke for 70-odd minutes, and I do mean odd,” Clinton said. “And he offered zero solutions. But we already know he doesn’t believe these things.” She later hit out at Trump over his business ventures as well.
Clinton then transitioned, “The choice we face is just as stark when it comes to our national security. Anyone reading the news can see the threats and turbulence we face. From Baghdad and Kabul, to Nice and Paris and Brussels, to San Bernardino to Orlando, we’re dealing with determined enemies that must be defeated. So it’s no wonder people are anxious and looking for reassurance, looking for steady leadership.”
The former First Lady vowed to work with allies, challenge Syria and Russia, support Israel’s security, and take out ISIS. “It won’t be easy, but make no mistake: We will prevail,” Clinton promised, going on to call our military a “national treasure.” She went on to question Trump’s abilities as a Commander-in-Chief, arguing, “A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.”
“We also can’t afford to have a president who’s in the pocket of the gun lobby,” Clinton further said. “I’m not here to repeal the 2nd Amendment. I’m not here to take away your guns. I just don’t want you to be shot by someone who shouldn’t have a gun in the first place.” In advocating for common-sense gun reform, she asked, “How can we stand by and do nothing?”
Clinton said it would take finding “common ground” on not just guns, but also “race, immigration and more.” She noted, “And that starts with listening to each other,” particularly when it comes to “systemic racism.” She vowed to fight for the rights of all people, from women to the LGBT community.
The former senator next said that over the last year, many didn’t believe Trump’s “mean” rhetoric was the real him. “But here’s the sad truth: There is no other Donald Trump. This is it,” Clinton said, “and in the end it comes down to what Donald Trump doesn’t get: America is great because America is good. So enough with the bigotry and the bombast. Donald Trump isn’t offering real change. He’s offering empty promises.”
But, “progress is possible,” Clinton assured, going on to conclude, “We begin a new chapter tonight… Yes, the world is watching what we do. Yes, America’s destiny is ours to choose. So let’s be stronger together my fellow Americans!”.” Gossip Cop will have full video of the speech soon. Stay tuned!
